Preparation of construction and fabrication drawings from a model



20, 1968 G. c. THOMAS 3,369,299

PREPARATION OF CONSTRUCTION AND FABRICATION DRAWINGS FROM A MODEL Filed Sept. 2, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. GORDON c. THOMAS G. c. THOMAS 3,369,299 PREPARATION OF CONSTRUCTION AND FABRICATION Feb. 20, 1968 DRAWINGS FROM A MODEL Filed Sept. 2, 1964 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

GORDON C. T HOMAS Feb. 20, 1968 c;. c. THOMAS 3,369,299

PREPARATION OF CONSTRUCTION AND FABRICATION DRAWINGS FROM A MODEL Filed Sept. 2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. GORDON c. moms BY MM Xv United States Patent M PREPARATION 033 CONSTRUCTION AND FABRICATION DRAWINGS FROM A MODEL Gordon C. Thomas, Westfield, N.J., assignor to The Lurnmus Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 393,920 6 Claims. (Cl. 331) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of producing a construction drawing from a model by encasing the model in a plastic material, cutting the encased model to form a cut section, reproducing the cut section, for example by tracing or photography, applying distance measuring devices to selected dimensional distances on the cut section or its reproduction, converting the measurements in accordance with the appropriate scale factor, marking the dimensions thus found on the reproduction, and making a further reproduction therefrom for use as the construction drawing.

In general, this invention relates to a new and improved method for the preparation of construction drawings without the need for extensive drafting effort. More particularly it relates to a method of transferring the dimensional relationships of a model of a plant directly to working documents from which the fabricator or constructor can create an actual plant with easily prepared construction drawings.

In the past, in designing construction plants which included structural steel members, piping, equipment, and the like, it was necessary to design a model on the drafting board. After designing the model, the model itself was prepared. After setting up and checking the model to be sure that it fits the specifications, the model design was copied on to paper for transmittal to fabricators and construction people. There are many limitations and disadvantages to modeling which arises from the difiiculty of transferring the dimensional relationships of the I models to working documents from which the fabricator or constructor can create the actual plant.

Therefore, it is the general object of this invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other ditficulties of prior art practices by the provision of a new and better method for the preparation of construction drawings.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a new and better method for the preparation of construction and fabrication drawings from a scale model.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a new and better method for the preparation of construction drawings which eliminate the need for transferring the dimensional relationships of a model to working drawings.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a new and better method for preparing construction drawings from a model which enables one to select any particular plane of reference for a particular drawing.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a new and better method of preparing construction drawings from a model which eliminates the need for extensive drafting expenses and thus substantially cuts the cost of preparing the drawings.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

3,369,299 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a model of a plant after the first step in the method of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the model of FIGURE 1 after a horizontal out has been made in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the model of FIG- URE 1 after a vertical out has been made in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

The method of the present invention is to be utilized with a model of a plant, which model has the equipment, structural steel and piping positioned in accordance with the specifications for the plant. Models of this type are customarily built to illustrate the overall size of a plant. As was stated previously, there are many limitations and disadvantages which have arisen with respect to the use of models due to the difiiculty of transferring the dimensional relationships of the model to working documents from which the fabricator or constructor can create the actual plant.

The method of the present invention comprises, in a first step, providing a model, as shown in FIGURE 1, of a plant such as a regenerative furnace of the type shown in US. Patent 3,087,797. The model 10 includes structural steel elements 12, piping 14, and other structural details.

The second step of the present invention is the encasing of the model 10 in a clear plastic material to form a trans parent solid 16. The solid 16, holds every element of the model 10 in place. The encasing material which forms the transparent solid 16, can be a clear silicone potting compound such as General Electric L'IV-60-2. In the alternative, any clear material which flows into position and solidifies, easily, can be utilized to encase the model 10.

As can be seen, the transparent solid 16 is rectangular in shape. In addition, the various elements of the model 10, namely the piping 14, structural steel elements 12, etc. are readily visible. In accordance with the third step of the present invention, the rectangular transparent solid is sectioned by sawing, cutting, or the like along a vertical or horizontal plane in a manner so as to produce in the scale of the model the customary plan views and elevational views that are used in construction work. For example, in FIGURE 2, there is shown the transparent solid 16 after a horizontal cut has been made therein. In FIGURE 3, the transparent solid 16 is shown with a vertical cut therethrough. The cut sections will generally be chosen to be parallel to pairs of the three principal axes which are characteristic of the usual plant structures.

It will be noted that the hardened clear material which forms the transparent solid 16 holds all the components in their proper position during and after the cutting step.

The fourth, or reproducing step, in the process of making constuction or fabrication drawings consists of photographing the cut section with a camera 18 as shown (not to scale) in FIGURE 3. In the alternative, the cut section can be reproduced by making a tracing of the cut section from a position parallel to the plane of the cut.

The reproduction obtained from the fourth step is then given to a draftsman who, with a rule, caliper and other measuring devices, dimensions the reproduction by measuring selected distances in the cut section or in its reproduction, converting the measurements in accordance with the scale factor of the cut section or reproduction relative to the desired plant, and marking the dimensions on the reproduction. This dimensioned reproduction is then reproduced for use as construction or fabrication drawings.

It will be observed that the method of the present invention has overcome the expense and delay of designing a model on paper, transferring designs to the model, checking the model, and then copying the model design into construction drawings as has been done heretofore.

Thus, the objects of the present invention have been achieved by the provision of a new and simpler method of producing fabrication and construction drawings.

The present invention may be embodied inother specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes therefor and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A method of preparing construction or fabrication drawings comprising the steps'of building a model of a desired plant, encasing the model in a plastic material to form a solid, cutting the encased model to form a cut section, reproducing the cut section from a view normal to the cut section, applying distance measuring devices to selected dimensional distances on the cut section or its reproduction, converting the measurements in accordance with the scale factor of the cut section or its reproduction relative to said plant, and marking the dimensions thus found on the reproduction in accordance with the desired specifications of the actual plant.

2. The method of preparing construction or fabrication drawings of claim 1 wherein the step of encasing includes encasing the model in a transparent plastic material whereby the step of cuttings is facilitated.

3. The method of preparing construction or fabrication drawings as defined in claim 1, wherein said model has orthogonal principal axes and the step of cutting includes cutting the solid along a plane parallel to two of said axes.

4. A method of preparing a construction or fabrication drawing comprising the steps of providing a model of a desired plant, encasing the model in a plastic material to form a solid, cutting the encased model to form a cut section, photographing the cut section from a view normal to the cut section, applying distance measuring devices to selected dimensional distances on the cut section or its photograph, converting the measurements in accordance with the scale factor of the cut section or its photograph relative to said plant, and marking the dimensions thus found on the photograph in accordance with the desired specifications of the actual plant, and reproducing the photograph so marked to produce a construction drawing.

5. A method of preparing a construction or fabrication drawing comprising the steps of building a model of a desired plant, encasing the model in a plastic material to form a solid, cutting the encased solid model to form a cut section, tracing the cut section, applying distance measuring devices to selected dimensional distances on the cut section or its tracing, converting the measurements in accordance with the scale factor of the cut section or its tracing relative to said plant, and marking the dimensions thus found on the tracing in accordance with the desired specifications of the actual facility, and reproducing the tracing so marked for use as a construction drawing.

6. A method of preparing a construction or fabrication drawing comprising the steps of building a model of a desired plant, said plant having orthogonal principal axes, encasing the model in a transparent plastic material to form a rectangular solid, cutting the rectangular transparent solid and encased model along a plane parallel to two of said principal axes, reproducing the cut section from a view normal to the cut section, applying distance measuring devices to selected dimensional distances on the cut section or its reproduction, converting the measurements in accordance with the scale factor of the cut section or its reproduction relative to said plant, and marking the dimensions thus found on the reproduction in accordance with the desired specifications of the actual plant, and reproducing the reproduction so marked for use as a construction drawing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 727,140 5/1903 Hill et al. -10 2,394,282 2/1946 Withers 3510 X 2,738,584 3/1956 Parker -a 33-1 2,996,762 8/1961 McCormick 35-2O ROBERT B. HULL, Primary Examiner. 

